Only WINSLOW uses reinforcement on both the inside and outside of every overlapped seam, yet one more facet of WINSLOW's superior strength. Far superior to conventional single part adhesives, WINSLOW's two part catalytic adhesive creates the strongest bond in the industry.

WINSLOW's Three Position Light Weight Canopy made from rip-stop nylon is international orange in color, automatically erects upon deployment of the life raft, no action by survivors is required, and gives immediate protection from the harsh, life-draining elements. The unique three position canopy can be 1) closed for protection from foul weather; 2) Retracted to a convertible position to provide airiness in mild weather and easy egress for Search and Rescue evacuation; 3) Opened to "sail" position where the WINSLOW can literally be sailed by catching the prevailing winds and bringing the survivors closer to landfall or shipping lanes.

WINSLOW's Sure-Seal™ Closures with heavy-duty #10 YKK zippers and canopy cinch straps are exclusive features found only on WINSLOW's canopy systems. WINSLOW received an EXCELLENT in the weather ratings category in The Aviation Consumer recent life raft testing making WINSLOW the driest life raft in the industry.

WINSLOW has incorporated a dual main zipper on the canopy. This allows survivors to unzip the canopy from the centerwhile it's closed and pull the sides back with velcro ties to create a ventilation opening.

The WINSLOW is constructed with ten equal sides, resulting in a more rounded shape than an octagon or hexagon, but without the integral weakness found in true round life rafts. The ten, double reinforced, hand mitered sections add rigidity and strength over round and even an octagon shape. The decagonal shape gives the WINSLOW far greater stability in rough seas. Square and rectangular are not nearly as rigid or seaworthy and oblong or rectangular shapes are particularly dangerous, prone to broaching and capsizing, particularly if the sea anchor is mis-deployed, fails or is lost.

The TriPod arch design provides superior rigidity in heavy weather, more interior volume, and combined with WINSLOW's oversized tubes, ensures enhanced headroom, adequate even for taller survivors. A one-way valve keeps the canopy erect, even if a tube fails, in which case, the canopy may be independently topped up.

WINSLOW's EZBoard™ four rung boarding ladder, together with the EZBoard™ Interior Assist Boarding Ladder and handholds, make boarding the WINSLOW Ultra-Light™ Life Raft simple. The Aviation Consumer gave WINSLOW's Life Rafts the highest marks given for boarding ease saying, "… a raft everyone could board with minimal difficulty, despite the enormous freeboard." The exterior ladder, interior assist ladder and all handholds are constructed of easy to grasp heavy-duty industrial webbing in bright easy to see blue. WINSLOW pioneered the interior assist boarding ladder and it remains superior to all others. It is equipped with "quick-release" fittings and can be easily disconnected for calm weather or remain in place as a brace point in heavy seas.

Rear door provides an additional entry into the life raft and can be used to adjust the sea anchor/drogue from its attachment point without exposing survivors to the harsh elements. The rear opening also provides cross ventilation when the canopy is partially opened.

Working in synergy with WINSLOW's already excellent array of entry aids, WINSLOW's boarding assist handles are engineered to make boarding easier. WINSLOW purposely twists the large 2" webbing handholds allowing for easier gripping even during onset of hypothermia.

WINSLOW’s observation port hole/water collection system provides a source for fresh water collection and is large enough to be used as a viewing port in the event that foul weather forces survivors to keep the canopy closed.

WINSLOW's Inflatable Insulated Double Floor (I2DF™) provides vital insulation to help prevent hypothermia, the number one killer in water survival situations. The WINSLOW Reed System, preferred in life raft tests, evenly distributes a protective insulated air cushion to all survivors. Because the I2DF™ is a true "built-in" floor, it creates an additional flotation chamber, adding buoyancy, increasing safety and freeboard.

The interior survivor locator light provides a bright light during the first eight hours after boarding the life raft, enabling survivors to attend to injuries and organize survival equipment. It is centrally located to illuminate the entire interior. The exterior light acts as a locator light in the event that any survivor is separated from the life raft. In addition, the light is visible at night by Search and Rescue.

WINSLOW's canopy mounted strobe provides Search and Rescue with a flashing beacon visible for over one mile.

WINSLOW has mounted a Quick-Grab™ Pelican® Magnum® Flashlight to the canopy arch for immediate access to survivors to assist with locating survival equipment and other necessary items in the dark. At night, the light also aids in locating missing survivors still in the water.

The WINSLOW heavy duty hemispherical drogue deploys automatically upon inflation; survivors need not worry about this critical function. The advanced engineering and high strength materials and construction make the Hemispherical Drogue the most effective drogue in the industry. The drogue is constructed of heavy duty fabric, rather than lightweight parachute nylon, for extra strength and longer life under the most severe sea conditions. WINSLOW uses 25' of line and double anti-foul swivels.

The WINSLOW Heaving Trailing Line is constructed of bright yellow, 3/16" high density braided polypropylene which floats, making it easy to locate. Braided line is easier to throw accurately and recoils quicker. The rigid 1 1/2" EZGrip handle on the end is covered with a non-slip surface for improved rescue performance. The unique yoke design allows a rescuer or survivor to put their whole arm through the end, so they can be better secured and still hold onto another survivor.

WINSLOW's 35' heavy duty painter line is made from sturdy one inch webbing and is designed with a fail safe way to disconnect from the strong point by using a manual snap hook and a 500 pound break strength weak link for ultimate safety.

WINSLOW has added Unidirectional Retro/Radar Reflective Segments on the canopy. Retro reflective segments are also added under the life raft and across the canopy support arch. These provide Search and Rescue and passing vessels with maximum visibility of the life raft.

The unique EZGrip™ righting line make righting easy, in the unlikely event it's required. WINSLOW provides heavy-duty two-inch wide, bowed handholds on the righting line, making them easier to grasp and the life raft easier to right. Experience indicates that with most pack configurations, over 90% of the time the WINSLOW Life Raft will inflate right side up and WINSLOW's fast deploying ballast system ensures it stays right side up.

In The Aviation Consumer's life raft testing report, it was stated that WINSLOW's Pentagonal Ballast System™ remains the most effective of any aviation life raft by a large margin. WINSLOW Life Rafts have superior positive stability. Unlike conventional ballast systems, which are short and come to a capacity limiting “V” shape, WINSLOW's Pentagonal Ballast System™ positions five deep, boxy ballast containers equally spaced around the perimeter of the life raft which provide nearly twice the ballast than the next largest competitor, affording exceptional stability in the severest conditions. Ballast is a critical factor in preventing the life raft from capsizing in heavy seas and high winds.

The Pentagonal Ballast System™ is equipped with Ballast Retraction Lines to reduce drag from below the water line and aid in sailing the life raft.

WINSLOW's EZGrip Exterior Lifelines & Interior Grasp Lines are constructed of easy to grasp heavy duty industrial webbing for improved effectiveness and greater strength. This is critical in colder weather when hands become numb and are easily injured and the ability to grip securely is substantially diminished.

Another WINSLOW innovation, the WINSLOW Store-Safe™ survival gear dry storage pockets get vital supplies off the floor of the life raft where they are in the way and subject to loss or damage. The five large stowage bags accommodate all provided survival gear plus additional emergency supplies brought on board in your ditch bag. Five pockets allow for effective organization and management of the supplies and the additional seating floor space makes an enormous difference in the comfort of survivors. The full width Velcro® flap prevents loss and water entry, keeping the gear secure and dry.

Survivors are provided with immediate action instructions on a bright yellow card so that they know what they must do immediately upon entering the life raft.